Difference between revisions of "Greer Winton Ottaway"
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| − | Winton enlisted at the [[No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre]] on 19 Mar 1941, and was initially mustered as a Pay Clerk and sent to the [[No.4 Recruit Depot RAAF]] to undertake entry level training. Training completed, on 30 Apr 1941 he was transferred to the State HQ element at [[RAAF Base Pearce]]. Here, on 1 Sep 1941 he was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman, and further promotion followed on 1 Nov 1941 when he was promoted Corporal, and then on 1 Jun 1942 Acting Sergeant. | + | Winton enlisted at the [[No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre]] on 19 Mar 1941, and was initially mustered as a Pay Clerk and sent to the [[No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF]] to undertake entry level training. Training completed, on 30 Apr 1941 he was transferred to the State HQ element at [[RAAF Base Pearce]]. Here, on 1 Sep 1941 he was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman, and further promotion followed on 1 Nov 1941 when he was promoted Corporal, and then on 1 Jun 1942 Acting Sergeant. |
Revision as of 22:43, 24 February 2022
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 AWM 32228423 ( touched up) | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 17 Jul 1920 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 21 Nov 1944, aged 24 |
| Place of Death | Germany |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 7 months |
| Description |
5'10½ in (1.79m) tall ; 126lbs 57.153 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | SUb Accountant |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 70 Lawley Crescent, Mount Lawley, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Kenneth Alfred Ottaway |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 38181 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 Mar 1941 |
| Rank | Flying Officer |
| Unit/Formation | No. 460 Squadron RAAF |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 11 Aug 1943 ‒ 16 Oct 1943 |
| Transport Details | SS Mount Vernon Sydney to England |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Killed in Flying Battle over Germany |
| Monument(s) | Runnymede Memorial, England |
| Australian War Memorial | Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Air Crew Europe Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Contents
Pre War
On leaving school Winton was employed for 16 months as a Junior Clerk by Jackson Leake Stawell & Co, before being employed by Attwood Motors Ltd as a Costong Clerk and Sub Accountant for 3½ years.
Electoral Roll entry: 1943 at 70 Lawley crescent, Maylands, RAAF
War Service
Winton enlisted at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 19 Mar 1941, and was initially mustered as a Pay Clerk and sent to the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF to undertake entry level training. Training completed, on 30 Apr 1941 he was transferred to the State HQ element at RAAF Base Pearce. Here, on 1 Sep 1941 he was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman, and further promotion followed on 1 Nov 1941 when he was promoted Corporal, and then on 1 Jun 1942 Acting Sergeant.
On 23 Mar 1942 Winton transferred to the No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF then based at Clontarf where he was remustered as Aircrew Group V reverting in rank on 11 Oct 1942 to Aircraftman II. His future was further decided on 1 Dec 1942 when he was deemed to be in the Pilot stream and on 7 Jan 1943 he was transferred to the No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF at Cunderdin as a Leading Aircraftman, to begin pilot training on the De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth. The first hurdle cleared, he was posted on 14 Mar 1943 to the No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton to join Plot Training Course No. 32 which flew Avro Anson aircraft. Again successful, receiving his Pilots Flying Badge on 25 Jun 1943, and on 30 Jun 1943 he was discharged as an enlisted man in order to be commissioned the next day as a Probationary Pilot Officer, which rank was later confirmed on 1 Jan 1944 when he was promoted Flying Officer.
On 2 Jul 1943 Winton was transferred to the No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF at Subiaco, before being transferred on 20 Jul 1943 to the No. 1 Embarkation Depot RAAF at the MCG (Ransford) in Melbourne. Transferred again on 7 Aug 1943, this time to the No. 2 Embarkation Depot RAAF at Bradfield Park, Lindfield, New South Wales as on 11 Aug 1943 Greer sailed from Sydney for the UK aboard SS Mount Vernon, disembarking in the UK on 16 Oct 1943. On arrival he was tken on by the RAAF Overseas Headquarters and then on 7 Mar 1944 he was posted to No. 20 (P) AFRU RAF, a unit that provided refresher flying training and more advanced flying in European conditions. This was followed by a period from 23 May until 11 Aug 1944 with the No. 30 Operational Training Unit RAF. While with them he enjoyed leave from 31 Jul 1944 until 12 Aug 1944 when he was posted to a Base unit, before joining No. 460 Squadron RAAF on 14 Oct 1944.
Winton flew his first mission as a crew member of an Avro Lancaster of No. 460 Squadron RAAF on 16 Oct 1944. At the time of his death he was posted to No. 20 Advanced Flying Training Unit as either an instructor or trainee. On some missions, to make up numbers, aircraft from Training Units participated to maximise the impact of the raid. AWM's Roll of Honour shows his unit as No. 460 Squadron, while the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list it as No. 20 Advanced Flying Training Unit.
Winton was appointed as a Probationary Pilot Officer on 1 Jul 1943, and confirmed in the rank on 1 Jan 1944.
The crew of Lancaster PB 469 which crashed following the Aschaffenberg raid of 21 Nov 1944 comprised:
- Winton Greer Ottaway Pilot
- Hugh S. Metcalfe Flight Engineer
- Lionel Wilson Flohm Bomb Aimer
- William F. Bull Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
- Allen N. Shilstone Rear Air Greer hadGunner
- G.H.J. Briggs Turret Air Gunner
- V.E. Norman Navigator
Notes
Official records alternate between Winton Greer, and Greer Winton Ottaway.
External Links
Pre War
Electoral Roll entry: 1943 at 70 Lawley crescent, Maylands, RAAF
War Service
Winton, was a member of No. 460 Squadron RAAF in November 1944, was a crew member of an Avro Lancaster. At the time of his death he was posted to No. 20 Advanced Flying Training Unit as either an instructor or trainee. On some missions, to make up numbers, aircraft from Training Units participated to maximise the impact of the raid. AWM's Roll of Honour shows his unit as No. 460 Squadron, while the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list it as No. 20 Advanced Flying Training Unit.
Winton was appointed as a Probationary Pilot Officer on 1 Jul 1943, and confirmed in the rank on 1 Jan 1944.
His crew of Lancaster PB 469 which crashed following the Aschaffenberg raid of 21 Nov 1944 were:
- Winton Greer Ottaway Pilot
- Hugh S. Metcalfe Flight Engineer
- Lionel Wilson Flohm Bomb Aimer
- William F. Bull Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
- Allen N. Shilstone Rear Air Gunner
- G.H.J. Briggs Turret Air Gunner
- V.E. Norman Navigator
Notes
Official records alternate between Winton Greer, and Greer Winton Ottaway.